Miranda You appear to be making all the right choices in life. I will be a little bit presumptuous by offering some advice on helping you to raise your child in touch with nature in this age full of all the electronic lures that keep the kids indoors. or, when outdoors, glued to a small screen, rather than the glory that surrounds them. I am writing a book about landscape architecture and have a section regarding the importance of embracing nature in the preschool years. - which I would like to forward that section to you. However, my computer skills are limited to email and US Mail. I don't even know how to attach a picture to the text. If you would like to receive this draft from my future book, send me your email or postal address, and I'll get it right off to you. My email is cascio.offsite@gmail.com Good luck with your new challenges and opportunities. Joe Cascio

Our puppy (now 12months) digs and destroys our garden. She chews the vines/creepers (especially the stems) and the plastic trellis... She also loves to sit on an outdoor storage box (plastic brown wicker look from outdoor shops)... When I remember, we give her some toys (plastic bottles with dog biscuits inside with lid screwed back on, chicken wing inside frozen ice cream container of water, 'Kongs' with peanut butter inside, bones (uncooked) and lots of walks/exercise to tire them out. Chewing is a big thing with the development of their teeth/gums etc. I know I need to do more training with her too... (Yes - already she has 'us' well trained!) Hope you manage to enjoy both garden and dog.

Hi Two's Company - Builder says in reference to your picture: "What you are showing is something that could potentially be done. However this is bringing in another work scope item (Hardwood) into your project. A transition piece would need to be made or special ordered (I would assume) and then sanded, stained and finished to match your existing floors. All while redoing floor tiles at the same time." Is this true that it's such a big job? Or is this a piece he can purchase? Also - if we decide to go with a white marble piece - can he follow your drawing for that? I would want to make SURE the marble can be laid flush with the tile and not stick up further. Would there be something on the edge of the tile, before the marble, to make sure there was a small edge? Or would the tile go right up until the marble? Thank you!

Wow, what an ambitious project! It's amazing to see how the heritage restoration combined with modern updates transformed the space into a unique oasis. I'd love to see more of the before-and-after pictures. Check out this URL for the full story!